EmploymentChartMem

Membership	Agendas/Minutes
Workgroup Recommendations July 2009

Current Situation

Many Studies report that adults with mental illness want to be employed and measures of satisfaction indicate this area to be the least “satisfactory” to survey respondents
Nationally, employment rates for adults within the mental health system is 21% (NOMS 2005)
In Missouri, 17% of adults within the mental health system are employed (NOMS 2005)
Nationally, 25% of persons within the Developmental Disability System are employed (2004)
In Missouri, 12% of persons within the Developmental Disability System are employed (2001)
People with mental disabilities (DD & MH) have the highest rate of poverty than any other disability group (Houtenville, 2006)
The majority of persons with mental disabilities in individual employment work less than 20 hours per week.
People with mental illness often fear working more hours for fear of losing medical benefits.
Fidelity Supported Employment is not widely available in MO
In FY 2006, Missouri ADA reports 31.4% (13,631) were employed at admission(29,804 unemployed) and 33.5% (10,439) were employed at discharge (20,753 unemployed).
In FY2007, the number of adult consumers in ADA substance abuse treatment programs who were employed increased by 10.5% between admission and discharge.

Desired Outcomes

Missouri shall promote the financial independence and economic contribution of persons with mental health needs/disabilities by developing employment and career opportunities in integrated community settings. Disparities in the employment status of people with disabilities vs the broader workforce will be eliminated.
Missouri will develop an accessible, flexible method of delivering benefits planning assistance to enable consumers to work to their highest potential
DMH and its providers will employ people with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse issues at all levels within their organizations.
Implementation of a workforce development initiative, focusing on the dangers of unemployment and the role of employment in recovery, resilience and self-determination.
All DMH consumers will have employment addressed with their mental health treatment or DD service plan.
DMH will commit to a specified achievement of employment success, based on baseline data.
DMH will partner with other employment-focused state agencies to promote job development, job training and job placement.

Undesirable Outcomes

Persons with mental health needs/disabilities remain unemployed, living in poverty and socially isolated.
DMH does not require providers to aggressively address consumer unemployment.

Scope

Address the strategies identified in the Transformation Plan, which are based on recommendations from the Employment Subgroup of the Disparities are Eliminated Workgroup.
Identify policy, financing and structural changes to recommend to TWG.
Develop a project management schedule that includes:

Specific Actions Steps;
Lead for each of the Action Steps; and
Target Dates for initiation of each Action Step
Mechanism for provision of routine progress reports for each of the Action Steps.

Resources

Recommendations of the Employment Subgroup of the Disparities are Eliminated Workgroup.
Final report of the Disparities Workgroup.
Powerpoint presentation by Joe Marrone, Institute for Community Inclusion, UMASS Boston
Supported Employment Grant

May 19, 2008